Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-30
NO. So.

turning of the trail She caught it from
him and hurled it upwards, its telltale
light vanishing within an extinguisher of
snow. Then, as, speeches. with aston
ishment, he stoad irresolutely, she seized
his hand and dragged him hastily towards
the town.
9TH night freight II be passin' yer in
five minutes" she gasped, almost inco-
herently. ut alters slows just thar, by
tn junction. Fur Gods sake, fur life's
sake, board it. It's yer only chance!''
The schoolmaster drew himself up de-
family. He was slim, blonde fellow,
with girlish eyes and coloring, but he had
a manly spirit under his effeminate ex-
terror. He understood at once that her
Jealous sutton had been working upon
SAILS fears with some threat of violence to
him. But if his heart beat more quickly
at the thought, it was not from coward
ice. He put his arm around the trem-
bling girl and drew her to him. With a
stified cry she broke away, urging him
forward with all her remaining strength.
A quarter of mile up the mountain she
had caught the gleam Of o lantern.
'Bill's a-goin' ter kill yer, she cried.
Hes got his shooter. Wot kin We do
agin him?'
Darcy's pantonymic answer was elo-
quent. He flung off his coat and began
to turn up his sleeves.
For one moment SAILS heart despaired
Then her woman S wit came to her and.
Darcy" she pleaded, rye amt
a-goin' ter back out now-ye amt
amt refusin' ter kum-wi' mep''
With her?
The man started and caught up his
coat hurriedly. Those last two words
opened vista not unpleasing to him, in
his passionate, selfish youth. He went
few steps forward and then hesitated.
The little inherent good In his nature as
serted itself in this last moment.
"Sal," he said, lido you know what
you are asking? IL have not done well
by you, butt never meant you-quite
such wrong-as this.
A great sob welled up from the girls
heart and strangled her. She put her
hands to her throat, wildly. Keener than
the bitter blast, sorer byfar than thewounds
from the icy ledge was the stab of those
repentant words. He had never meant
to marry her, never-not even when his
words were softest, his eyes and heart
most warm! And this was the man for
whom she had just dared death-the
lover whom she would have saved at any
cost. The thought of Bill-poor, rough,
loyal Bill; of his love, honorable, manly,
steadfast, which she had bartered--for
this! A sudden bitter resentment took
possession of her-to vanish as she looked
up and met Darcy's soft blue eyes. Poor,
goddess, untaught Sal! What chance had
she that love would not prove too strong
for her?
II love We, she whispered. ".We can't
never be free yer. Take me away,
Darcy-don't leave me yer-ter Bill"
Leave her to Bill! All the passion, the
jealousy, the logged determination of
Darcy Breene's character, to carry
through at any cost whatever was most
opposed, was quickened by the words.
He put on his coat, and turned toward
the junction, his hesitation all but nomi-
nally at an end.
IL have so little money! he cried,
yieldingly.
"Yer's mine; take it, take it! Ye kin
pay me back emmy time"
She forced the purse upon him, and
led him INCREASINGLY toward the frosty
tracks, glittering at the cross roads.
But my room-my things-I cannot
leave SOL He stopped, resolutely, as
sudden remembrance swept over him.
''There is picture, y he said, flush of
honest shame mounting redly to his brow
as he spoke; '.it is under my pillow. 1
don't mind my other traps, but-I-must
--have-thatr'
The whistle of the engine sounded in
the distance.
Civ me tn key! III git it fur YETI
the girl cried, recklessly. go ON; IN
foller; and mechanically he went for
ward, the binding snow yelling her from
his sight.
She shrank back against the white
rock and waited till the snort of the
coming engine could be distinguished
through the silence. Then she folded
her shawl about her, and sped towards
the tracks. in Darcy's footprints. He
looked at her inquiringiy az she reached
him, painting, just as the long train
began to slow, and the engine pulled
past them.
"Tve got it'll Git on-They re startin'r"
coach, neared them.
He attempted to help her up, but she
pushed him before her, and jumped after
him. The wheels began to quicken.
Darcy" she sobbed, ''lriss mel
There, on the icy platform, with the
wind sweeping around them, the snow
whirling in their faces, he opened his
arms and folded her in them, pressing a
hot kiss on her passionate, death white
face.
The next moment he was flung back
ward into the lighted car; the door closed
upon him. When he had leaped to his
feet and regained the platform, he was
alone, with the train racing along the
tracks at pitiless speed. And FAR behind,
by the tracks ON the snowy roadside, alone
and defenseless in the bitter night, stood
Sal Enderby, and her heart in her face as
she held out her arms in mute farewell
to the man her love had saved.
Ten minutes later she was in Darcy
Breene's room, cropping her way to the
pillow under which rested the picture he
had refused to leave. She drew it out,
and felt around for a match, mad jeal-
ousy in possession of her. The portrait
that he could not part from-of whom
was it. A low fire was burning in the
CRATE. She bent down eagerly, holding
the picture to the light of the flames. It
was photograph of girl-a fair, sweet,
gentle looking girl; and on the margin
was written tn Darcy Breene's clear char
acters, Sweetheart. A faint sensation
swept over the girl. The flames dazzled
her, the picture danced before her.
sweetheart" ssSweetheart!'' And to
know it now, now m the hour when she
had risked her life to save himt She
staggered to the bed and fell across it,
face downwards, scorching tears gather
ing slowly in her wide open, unseeing
eyes. She did not hear the door open,
nor the quick footsteps that sounded in
the room.
''Kum cut yerv' cried "a voice,
roughly. II amt goin' ter git tn bet
ter o. We unbeknownst I'm willin' ter
fight We far am scirlar' an LOT tn haaf